Steel reinforcer for wooden poles



NOL 7. 1967 J. s. NAcHAzx-:L 3,350,822

STEEL REINFORGER FOR WOODEN POLES Filed Sept. 20, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Nov. 7, 1967 J. s. NAcHAzEL STEEL REINF'ORCER FOR WOODEN POLES 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 20, 1955 Za, Y

w//Mn/l a //////A my S mwa/@Mw ww T i M L5 A M United States Patent O M'3,350,822 STEEL REINFGRCER FOR WOODEN POLES John Stanley Nachazel,Englewood, Colo., assigner to CF&I Steel Corporation, a corporation ofColorado Fried sept. 20, 196s, ser. No. 488,643 5 Claims. (Cl. 52-170)ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A steel reinforcing member for utility poles,the member having a semi-cylindrical elongated shape with the lower endthereof terminating in two spaced points and having angular taperedsurfaces for cont-rolling the path of movement of the member as it isdriven into the ground adjacent to the utility pole.

This application is a continuation-impart of application Ser. No.200,206, filed June 5, 1962, now abandoned for steel reinforcer forwooden poles.

This invention relates to reinforcing devices and more particularly toreinforcing devices suitable for insertion into the ground at the sideof utility poles to insure their longer use or to strengthen old polesthat have been subject to deterioration.

A wooden utility pole becomes weakened by decay at an area just belowthe earths surface much sooner than the remainder of the pole due to theaccumulation of moisture in that area.

Various attempts at providing suitable reinforcing devices have beenmade, however, all have attendant disadvantages. One such attempt hasbeen to place a short section of wooden pole in the ground and to clampit next to the utility pole. The disadvantages of providing such asection are that this section will also decay, and that an additionalhole must be dug.

Various types of metal reinforcers have been utilized that t ush againstthe pole. In order that a driving means be attached to such a reinforcerto facilitate penetration of the reinforcer into the ground, a separaedriving head must be attached to the top of the reinforcer projectingoutwardly thereby being adapted t0 receive a driving means.

Other reinforcing devices are provided with ends that taper to a pointto facilitate penetration into the earth. As this type of reinforcingmember is driven into the ground, the resistance of the dirt and rockstends to force the member away from the desired penetration line whichis normally along the longitudinal axis of the utility pole. Thus,depending upon the taper angle -that the point is cut, the member willeither diverge from or converge toward the pole during penetration.

The present invention overcomes these disadvantages by providing a steelreinforcing member adapted to receive a driving means and adapted to bedriven in the ground adjacent to the utility pole without penetratingtherein. The reinforcing member of the present invention issemicylindrical and elongated. One feature is that the diameter of thereinforcing member is less than the diameter of the utility pole. Thus,the complete cross section of the member does not lit flush against thepole and its top edge is accordingly able to receive a suitable drivingmeans.

Another feature of the present invention resides in the penetratingsections carried by the lower end of the reinforcing member, whichcomprises a major angular surface tapering downwardly toward thelongitudinal edges of the reinforcing member and a minor angular surfacetapering downwardly away from the longitudinal edges forming two pointsand a riding surface to prevent penetration of the points into thepoles.

Patented Nov. 7, 1967 ICC One further feature of the present inventionis the provision of a hole near the top of the reinforcer which can beused for attaching a hook or line to remove the reinforcing member orfor attaching of a suitable driving means.

A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendantadvantages thereof will be readily appreciated as the same becomesbetter understood by reference to the following detailed descriptionwhen considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front View of the reinforcer of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of FIG. 1 taken at a right angle;

FIG. 3 is a top view of FIG. 1 after it is connected to a utility pole;

FIG. 4 shows the lower portion of the member after it is embedded in theearth;

FIG. 5 is a view of a reinforcing member af-ter it is connected to autility pole; and,

FIG. 6v shows apparatus for driving the reinforcing member into theground adjacent to a utility pole.

The improved reinforcing member, generally indicated by 1, issemi-cylindrical in cross section and elognated. It can be economicallyand advantageously formed from steel pipe cut in longitudinal halves.The diameter of the reinforcing member 1 is preferably less than thediameter of the pole, therefore, the complete cross section of themember does not fit flush thereto. The upper edge 2, arcuate in shape,of the member 1 contacts the pole only at its edges. The center portionof the upper edge 2 is thereby'set away from the pole providing a spacebetween the pole and the reinforcing member 1. This forms a driving area3 readily adaptable to receive a suitable driving means. Thus, the needof attaching a separate driving head between the driving means and thereinforcing member is eliminated. Furthermore, since the complete crosssection of the reinforcing member does not t flush against the pole, itis not necessary that a large stock of different diameter reinforcingmembers be kept to accommodate different pole sizes. A hole 4 isprovided to facilitate removal of the member 1 or for the attachment ofa driving means.

To aid in penetrating the earth, the lower end of the reinforcing member1 tapers downwardly and forms two pointed sections terminating in twopoints 5 and 6. Each pointed section is comprised of a major angularsurface 7 which tapers downwardly in the direction toward thelongitudinal edges of member 1 and a minor angular surface 8 whichtapers downwardly away from the longitudinal edges 9. In the area of theintersection of the longitudinal edges 9 and the minor angular surfaces8, a riding surface 10 is carried which prevents penetration of thepoints into the pole as described in detail with reference to FIGURE 4.By forming the minor angular surfaces 8 tapering downwardly away fromthe longitudinal edges 9, the points 5 and 6 are positioned away fromthe longitudinal edges 9y rather than at the point 11 (FIG. 2) where themajor angular surfaces 7 would meet the longitudinal edges 9 if theminor :angular surface 8 were not formed.

A preferred method of forming the points 5 and `6, is to make a major Vshaped angular cut from the center of the reinforcing member 1 taperingdiagonally toward the longitudinal edges 9. The point 11 of intersectionis trimmed by a second minor angular cut, preferably made at an angle ofapproximately 30 with the longitudinal edges 9. The intersection of theminor angular surfaces 8 and the major angular surfaces 7 created by thetwo cuts results in the formation of the two points 5 and 6.

FIG. 4 shows the details of the lower end of the reinforcing member. Asthe device is driven into the earth, obstructions such as rocks 12 areencountered. Because of the angle of the major angular surface 7, thereinforcing member 1 tends to take the path of least resist ance andmoves over the rocks 12 in a direction generally designated by the arrowin FIG. 4. This movement is desirable in order to keep the reinforcingmember 1 close to the pole. To avoid the possibility of the reinforc-`ing member 1 entering the pole should a rock 12 be encountered, as itis driven into the ground, the minor angular surface 8 is provided ashereinabove described, carrying the riding surface 10 in the area of theintersection of the minor angular surfaces t8 and the longitudinal edges9 that will slide along the pole rather than enter it. Thus, thereinforcing member is kept close to the pole without the attendantdisadvantage of entering the pole.

FIG. 5 illustrates a reinforcer of the invention after it has beendriven into the ground. Suitable bands or straps are provided to anchorthe upper portion of the reinforcing member of the pole.

FIG. 6 illustrates the preferred apparatus for driving the reinforcingmember into the ground by means of an air hammer 13. Rope or chain 21may be used to hold the reinforcing member in position against the poleWhile the driving apparatus is being positioned. The mounting rig shownincludes a supporting shaft 14 adapted to be placed in the groundalongside the pole. The shaft is provided with a fork 15 at its upperend adapted to grip the pole. One end of a pulley hoist 16 is mounted onthe fork 15 while the other end supports the air hammer 13. The airhammer 13 is further positioned by a second hoist 17. Ropes or chains 18may be used to hold the air hammer 13 in position until the member 1 isdriven into the ground. A special driving attachment 20 is then readilyfitted on the driving area 3 of the reinforcing member 1 because of thedifference in its diameter from the pole diameter. The air hammer 13 isthen actuated to drive the reinforcing member into the ground.

It will be apparent that although the invention has been described inconnection with a utility pole, it is not so limited, and is equallyapplicable supporting any type of embedded poles or posts such as fenceposts or the like. The present invention could also be used to supportuprooted trees.

Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the presentinvention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It istherefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims,the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically describedherein.

I claim:

1. A steel reinforcing member adapted to be driven into the groundadjacent a utility pole, said reinforcing member being semi-cylindricaland elongated, the upper portion of said member forming a driving area,the lower portion of said reinforcing member being cut to define a majorangular surface tapered downwardly toward the longitudinal edges of themember and minor angular surfaces tapered downwardly away from saidlongitudinal edges thereby forming two points, and riding surfacesformed in the area of the intersection of the minor angular surfaces andthe longitudinal edges.

2. The reinforcing m-ember of claim 1 wherein the cylindrical diameterof said member is less than the diameter of the utility pole, the saiddriving area positioned away from the pole thereby being adapted toaccommodate a suitable driving means.

3. A steel reinforcing member for supporting utility poles adapted to bedriven into the ground, said reinforcing member being elongated andsemi-cylindrical, having a diameter less than the utility pole therebyforming a driving area at the upper edge adapted to receive a suitabledriving means, the lower portion of said member being cut to defineangular surfaces, one said surface tapered toward the longitudinal edgeof said reinforcing member and other surfaces tapered away from saidlongtudinal edge forming riding surfaces whereby said reinforcing membercan be driven into the ground in axial alignment with the pole withoutthe point being embedded therein.

4. The reinforcing member of claim 3 wherein means are provided tosecure the reinforcing member to the pole.

S. The reinforcing member of claim 4 wherein a means is provided forconnection to a suitable driving means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,569,763 1/1926 Litter 173-132 X1,811,899 6/1931 Spring 52-170 2,265,452 12/1941 Ruggieri 52-1703,005,503 10/1961 Spickard 173--130 3,193,252 7/1965 Barrett 254-51BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

DAVID I. WILLIAMOWSKY, Examiner.

A. M. C ALVERT, Assistant Examiner.

1. A STEEL REINFORCING MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE DRIVEN INTO THE GROUNDADJACENT A UTILITY POLE, SAID REINFORCING MEMBER BEING SEMI-CYLINDRICALAND ELONGATED, THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID MEMBER FORMING A DRIVING AREA,THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID REINFORCING MEMBER BEING CUT TO DEFINE A MAJORANGULAR SURFACE TAPERED DOWNWARDLY TOWARD THE LONGITUDINAL EDGES OF THEMEMBER AND MINOR ANGULAR SURFACES TAPERED DOWNWARDLY AWAY FROM SAIDLONGITUDINAL EDGES THEREBY FORMING TWO POINTS, AND RIDING SURFACESFORMED IN THE AREA OF THE INTERSECTION OF THE MINOR ANGULAR SURFACES ANDTHE LONGITUDINAL EDGES.